Sick of buying the same old high street store voucher or gift card for the teenagers in your family? 
We are too, but trend-conscious teens are tough to buy for even in the best of times. Finding that perfect gift sometimes requires thinking a little outside the box.
Rather than a tangible gift, why not consider giving them an experience instead. An experience that will leave them motivated and inspired – and may even teach them a new skill.
We’ve compiled our favourite hands-on gift ideas for daring teens that most definitely have the “wow” factor. Your teen will remember the experience far longer than the latest fashions. Plus you’ll get bonus points for being their cool relative. It’s a win-win situation all round!
Get Extreme with Indoor Skydiving
Give the teenager in your family the thrill of skydiving, without having them leaping out of a plane, with an indoor skydiving experience. A number of different companies around the UK and US operate wind tunnels that simulate skydiving with the help of trained professionals.
Plus the “skydiver” will never be more than a few meters from the ground – so it’s completely safe! Your teen could go home with a souvenir DVD too, to show off to all their mates.
Whip Up a Storm with a Cookery Course
Dreading the thought of your teenager living a life of beans on toast at university? Buy them some cookery lessons, and ensure their life away from home is more ‘fine dining’ than ‘4am kebabs.’
Many cookery schools and even local restaurants offer low-cost introductory courses to many different styles of cooking and baking, and they’ll only be too thrilled to show off their skills to their new housemates.
Discover the Fine Art of Screen Printing
Teenagers love to wear t-shirts emblazoned with striking slogans and intricate illustrations. They might be intrigued to discover just how those garments are made.
Screen printing is a traditional way of applying images to fabric that’s still very much alive today. You’re sure to find a workshop near you that offers a beginner’s course in this intricate process that will capture an artistic teenager’s imagination.
Make a Splash with a Kitesurfing Experience
Thanks to our lovely blustery weather, there are plenty of places to try watersports like kitesurfing around the UK. If you’re heading off on a family holiday this summer why not give your teen the opportunity to try it abroad?
One of the best places to kitesurf in particular is Morocco, where Explora Morocco offer fantastic kitesurfing lessons in beautiful Essaouira. You’ll get great value for money from their professional teachers too. Plus it will make a family holiday, or getaway to Morocco with their mates one to truly remember.
Get Some Air with BMX Lessons
The Olympics have made BMX riding cooler than ever, and more and more BMX schools have popped up around the country to teach teenagers the fun of two wheels.
Whether they want to get into racing, or learn their bunny hops from their tail-whips, every teenager will love the chance to try their hand at BMX lessons. The good news is that they’re surprisingly affordable.
Jennifer is a single mum to two young teenage boys. She balances running the family home with full time work and shares her experience and writes guides to help other single parents in her spare time.
